PREP SOFTBALL: Vista Murrieta buckles down in win over Great Oak

MURRIETA -- After allowing a pair of runs on three errors in the
first inning Wednesday, Vista Murrieta right fielder Heidi Velk
called the troops in for a much needed conversation at the
circle.

MURRIETA -- After allowing a pair of runs on three errors in the
first inning Wednesday, Vista Murrieta right fielder Heidi Velk
called the troops in for a much needed conversation at the
circle.

The result was evident immediately.

Starting pitcher Selina Ta'amilo retired the following two
batters to get out of the inning and sat down 14 of the next 16
batters she faced to lead the Broncos to an 8-3 Southwestern League
victory over Great Oak.

"We started out playing too safe," Vista Murrieta head coach Dan
Torres said. "We knew that this was a big game and how important it
was to the standings, and we were just playing too tight.

"After the conference, they really calmed down and decided to
play the way they knew how to play. It turned everything
around."

Southwestern League-leading Vista Murrieta (17-5, 9-1) wasted no
time regaining the lead, shelling out four hits in the bottom of
the first to a take a 4-2 advantage. After singles from Velk and
Sierra Romero, Jizelle Morando doubled home the pair to tie the
contest.

Senior catcher Katie Tackett then blasted a 1-0 pitch over the
wall in right center to push the Broncos ahead.

"The pitch was middle in, and I drove it keeping my hands
inside," Tackett said. "It went off the bat hard. I saw it
well."

Torres attributed confidence to the quick comeback.

"It's all about continuing to work hard every day," Torres said.
"When you do that, it builds your confidence, and you're able to
call on it in situations like today. Even after allowing those two
runs in the first, we knew this game was nowhere near over and that
we would be able to put the ball in play."

Ta'amilo, a freshman, took the lead and ran with it, using her
changeup and rise to complete the game. She allowed only two earned
runs off four hits while striking out seven.

Great Oak (14-6, 6-4) starter Hannah Dewey pitched five innings
and allowed six earned runs off nine hits, while striking out seven
and walking one.

Tackett finished her day going 2-for-3 with four RBIs.

"She is hitting the ball well right now," Torres said. "We have
a saying here --"Aim small, hit big" -- and she has that focus down
now. She is getting that tunnel vision and is seeing the middle of
the ball. "

With the win, Vista Murrieta remained a game ahead of
second-place Chaparral, which defeated Murrieta Mesa on
Wednesday.

"With the one league loss, and Chaparral right behind us, every
game almost feels like a championship game," Torres said.

Vista Murrieta and Great Oak will meet for the final time this
season Friday.